Adjustable closed or sealed container



-H. CAREW ADJUSTABLE CLOSED on SEALED CONTAINER Filed July 17. 1943 :m iillln INVENTOR. Herman Gare w: BY

AT'EI RN EYS atented Aug. 21, 1945 PATEN T OFFICE;

ADJUSTABLE cLosEp on SEALED CONTAINER l Herman Oarew, Easton, Company, Easton, Pa

ware

Pa, asslgnor to Dixie Cup a corporation ofDela Application July 17, 194:. sari-1N0. 495,113

This invention relates to the art of paper containers, and more especially to an adjustable closed orsealed, paper container, wherein the body of the container and closure thereofmay occupy self-adjusting relationships without impairing their closed or sealed function, to increase the capacity or area within the closed container as expansion of the contents of the container may necessitate.

In the practice of i'reezingf00d-ice cream for example-paper containers have been largely reforthat purpose. I have mentioned the different by the small sold, because sizes of containers, as controlled portion or bulk of the article to be the considerations to which I shallnow allude to all gOOdS apply toa greater or less extent adapted to be frozen in the containers and where the same is subject to expansion underquick freezing processes.

with the foregoing in mind, and realizing that in the practices referred to there is a constant difllculty or damage encountered in the freezing operation, by reason of the expansion of the contents of the containers and constant disruption ofthe seal or connection of the cap orclosure of the container, relative to the body of the latter, theprimary object of my present invention specifically resides in the provision, in combination with a suitable paper container, of a paper cap therefor having a wide range of adjustment longitudinally of thecontainer to close and seal the sai-e circumferentially of the container and cap flange, throughout a substantial arealongitudinally of, the container, whereby to enlarge the area within the container and cap toallow, for the expansion referred to, without damage or disarrangement, such as exposing the container contents or aflording undue access of the external air, dust, etc., to the interiorof the con tainer and, contents therein.

The preferred embodiment of my invention comprises a paper cup or container of upwardly flaring shape to facilitate nesting of the containers in stack formation, as is usual; the open top portion of the container having aflange arched away from and turned down to occupy f: Claims. (o 229-45) a vertical plane separatedfrom the body of the container, said flange being made rigid by an inturned thickness of thematerial secured against the inner wall of said flange, but away from the adjacent wall of the container and away from the arch or bend constituting, the juncture between the flange and inclined wall of the eontainer, whereby a circumferential outstanding relatively rigid ring is constituted by the double wall, flange. The outstanding location ,-()f the said flange, directed away from the wallof the container, allows for a substantial degree of change of shape, bulge orthe like, under the influence of the contents within the container.

The embodiment of the invention under discussion also includes a closure or sealing cap having a down-turned rim terminating in the rolled lower edge, the same being preferably formed of a single piece of paper, pleated throughout the flange, and rolled or beaded atthe edge whereby the latterconstitutes a flexlble rins. actlnglike a spring, to engage, over and down pastthe flange on the container. The flangeon the container beingsubstantially rigid, the flexible and expansible roll on the flange ofthe lld, though p01 mallyof the same interiondlameter as the exterior diameter oft-he relative rigid ring or flange on the body, will exert *a gripping influence between the rigid flange or ringand the flange of the cover, augmented by the more secure gripping of the spring or flexible ring constituted by the beaded flange, adapted normally to engage below the end of the lower edge of therigid ring or flange, and subsequently to travel up wardly on the exterior face of the rigid flange to the" extent required by the expansion of the cup contents within the container and lift of the lid-while, at all times within" the range of adjustment, maintaining a close fit of the cap on the container owing to the influence of the roll or beaded edge circumferentially of theflange of the rigid ring and also. because of the contact of the flange of the cap above the bead thereof with the said rigid ring. a l

.The preferred embodiment ofthe invention, above generally outlined, is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and will be further set forth in detail herein. l l

In the drawing-s j Figure 111s an elevation of the container. the flange or ring on the body of the cup being completely concealed by the Figure 2 isa similar view showing the cover or lid raised to anelevated position when the beaded edge of the cover or lid rides and ilnpinses upon flange of the cover or lid.

its paper formation,

the outer surface of the flange or ring on the container, parts being broken away and shown in section to better illustrate the engagement between the lid and body and their relative positions referred to.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical ectional view showing the lid or top in its lowermost position cover 'or lid elevated with respect to the body of a cup or container formed of paper and flaring from the bottom upwardly so as to be nestable with other cups when desired, and B is a vertical'depending flange united with the upper edge of the container by an arch or relatively open curve C to provide a wide space or area D between the body of the cup and the flange B and without lateral reinforcement of the wall a of the cup, for purposes which will appear. E is an upturned terminal portionof the flange B, closely connected in parallel and surface-abutting relationship to the flange B so that the two parts 3 and E, referred to, constitute a very strong and relatively rigid ring arranged circumferentially of the body of the container. Because of the space D, alluded to, there is ample room for this reinforcement of the ring or flange without the up-turned or inner flange portion E reinforcing or interfering in any way with the flexibility of the wall a of the container and its curved connection C with the flange B depending therefrom.

Because of the arrangement of the relatively rigid flange or ring on the cup body LA, as above described, it is to be appreciated that the wall of the cup being of substantial flexibility, because of so to speak, outwardly and inwardly, as permitted by the space D and archconnections C, as compelled by the expansion of the ice cream contents under the freezing operation, it being observed 7 said wall may give and take;

that the upper end e, of the up-turned inner part E of the flange B, terminates well short of the arch connection or gradual bend C so as to offer no obstruction in that area which might cause some interference with the staple connection of the reinforced flange B, it being the desire that all portions of the flange B and up-turned part E be away from any impairing influence flowing from the outwardly flexing of the wall a of the container under the expansionof the container contents, whichwouldbe present if the reinforcing up-turned part of the flange B was crowded into the space immediately below the arch connection C and against said arch.

F designates the flat cover portion of the lid which is in one piece to lie horizontal and flat against the arch bend or connection 0, between the container wall a and reinforced flange B, the corner of the lid being rounded as at f to flt said flange B of the body A. The lid is of a pleated formation, in other words, it is formed from a single piece'of paper with the edges pleated and downwardly turned from the top member F and overlapped to impart the desired circular formation of the flange G. The lower end of the flange curved or arched connection C and having a downwardly turned parallel flange G, occupying a vertical plane the same as the reinforced flexible G, or downwardly turned and pleated portion of .the cover, is terminated in a roll H of a size and it acts like a spring or a flexible ring, keeplng the cover lid on the container even when the disc part of the lid does not of the container.

and the contents frozen,

When the container is fllled as when used in the quick freezing of foods, the contents are expanded,

from the position it was in at the time of filling, which it will be understood is a position with the beaded or rolled edge H of the cover pressing somewhat inwardly beneath the double wall rigid flange B of the body of the container A. The outside diameter of the substantially rigid ring B is substantially the same as the inside diameter of the flange G on the lid; so

pushing the lid away that there will be a close riding flt inthe-move-' ment of the beaded flange Gover the face of the rigid flange B and maintaining the sealing or flrm securement of the cap and body together whatever the adjustment between the same throughout the height of the flange G; and normally, as stated, when the container is filled and capped the beaded edge H of the cap will bind upon the lower edge of the reinforced or relatively rigid flange B, within position to be forced upwardly along the face of the flange B as demanded by the swellingof the frozen contents'of the container and the raising of the flat top F of the lid toan elevated point with reference to the container, as marked by the extent of expansion of the ice cream or food product desired to be protected and sealed at all times while permitting the selfadjustment of the seal.

It is desirable, particularly in some cases, that the body of the container and cap, as stated, be

formed of paper, parafilned or the like to render thesame impervious to moisture.

described, is particularly useful in that the double wall flange B is thereby made all the more rigid and the smooth surfaces of the said wall and pleated wall of the cup may have a more secure sealing contact and greater smoothness for movement.

By having the roll on the cover flange, of the I It will be further noted that because of the peculiar construction, arrangement and associationv of parts of my expanslble container, the. container and lid portions can light weight paper.

While I have illustrated but the'one 'embodie ment of the invention, herein disclosed, it is ap preciated that the invention is capable of being embodied in other forms and devices involving minor details of arrangements and parts so that it is not my intention that the invention is limited to the specific ing claims point to such limitations.

circumferentially against the.

come in contact with the top The use of the paraflln in a'mechanical structure, such as herein" securethe advantages within the the container, insures the holding I be made of thin or illustration save as the follow-' 2,308,290 I 3 pension oi container contents without aflecting I claim: i i

1. A paper container comprising a tapered body having at its open top portion a relatively rigid ring oflset to occupy a vertical position laterally oi the inclined wall of the body and connected to 5 the latter by an arched portion bridging the area between the ringandwall, the rigidity of the ring being augmented byiolding the material of the ring back upon itself and spaced throughout away from contact with the wall of the body so that the wall may change its contour under expansion of container contents without affecting said ring, in

combination with a cover having a depending relatively resilient imperforate flange concentric to having at its open top portion a relatively rigid ring offset to occupy a vertical position laterally ol' the inclined wall of the body and connected to the latter by an arched portion bridging the area between the ring and wall, the rigidity of the ring being augmented by folding the material of the ring back upon itself and spaced throughout away from contact with the wall of the body so that the wall may change its contour under expansion of container contents without affecting said ring, in combination with a cover having a depending relatively resilient imperforate flange concentric to the ring 01' the body and of a dia'meterto hug the ring and have riding frictional engagement there-V with to permit the cover to be raise under said expansion of the container contents to correspondingly enlarge the capacity of the container while maintaining sealing relationship between the cover flange and the ring throughout their range of adjustment, the cover flange terminating at its lower edge in a roll Or bead adapted to project below the bottom edge of the rigid ring when the cover is in completely closed position. i

3. A paper container comprising a body having at its open top portion a relativelyrigid ring oifset laterally from the wall of the body an connected to the latter by an arched portion bridging the area between the ring and wall, the rigidity of the ring being augmented by folding the material oi' the ring back upon itself and spaced throughout away from contact with the Wall of the body so that the wall may change its contour under expansion of container contents without aflectlng said ring, in combination with a cover having a depending relatively resilient imperiorate flange concentric to the ring of the bodyand of a diameter to hug the ring and have riding t-irictional engagement therewith to permit the cover to be raised under said expansion of the container contents to correspondingly enlarge the capacity 01' the container while maintaining sealing relationship between the cover flange and the ring throughout their range of adjustment.

4. A paper container comprising a body'having at its open top portion a relatively rigid ring offset laterally from the wall of the body and connected to the latter by an arched portion bridging the area between the ring and wall, the rigidity of the ring being augmented by folding the material 01 the ring back upon itself and spaced throughout away from contact with the wall of the body so that the wall may change its contour under exsaid ring, in combination with a cover havinga depending relatively resilient imperi'orate flange concentricto the ringot the body and of a diameter to hug the ring and have riding -frictional engagement therewithto permit the cover to be raised under said expansion of the container con tents to ,correspondingly enlarge the capacity of the container while maintaining sealing relationship between the cover flange and the ring throughout their range of adjustment, thelower edge of the cover flange being rolled or headed to form a relatively resilient band adapted to en circle the ring of the body andhave a holding and sealing contact therewith throughout the range of adjustment of the cover. c c

i 5. A paper. container comprislnga body having at its open top portion a relatively rigid ring oirset laterally from the wall of the body and connected to the latter by an arched portion bridging the area between the ring and wall, the rigidity of the ring being augmented by folding the material of the ring back upon itself and spaced throughout away from contact with the wall 01 the body so that the wall may change its contour under expansion of container contents without aflecting said ring, in combination with a cover having a depending. relatively resilient imperforate flange concentric to the ring or the body and of a diameter to hug the ring and have riding frictional engagement therewith topermit the cover to be raised under said expansion oi. the container contents to correspondingly enlarge the capacity of the container while maintaining sealing relationship between the cover flange and the ring throughout their range of adjustment, the lower edge of the cover flange being rolled or beaded to form a relatively resilient band adapted to encircle the ring of the body and have a holding and sealing contact therewith throughout the range of adjustment of the cover, the beaded-flange of the cover being of a length to project below the ring and be in holding engagement with the bottom edge thereof when the cover is in completely closed position.

6. A paper container comprising a body having at its open top portion a ring ofiset to occupy a position laterally of the wall of the body an connected to the latter by an arched portion bridging the area between the ring and wall, the rigidity of the ring being augmented by folding the material of the ring back upon itself and spaced throughout away from contact with the wall of the: body so that the wall may change its contour under expansion or container contents without affecting said ring, in combination with a cover having a depending-relatively resilient imperforate flange adapted to flt around said ring, the lower part of the flange being rolled or bonded to form a relatively resilient band or ring encircling the ring on the body and having a riding frictional contact therewith, permittingthe cover to be raised under said expansion of container contents to correspondingly enlarge the capacity 01' the container while maintaining a substantially uniform sealing relationship between the cover and body throughout their range of adjustment.

7. A paper container comprising a body having at its open top portion a ring offset to occupy a position laterallyof the wall of the body and connected to the latter by an arched portion bridging the area between the ring and wall, the rigidity oi the ring being augmented by folding the material of the ring back upon itself and spaced throughout away from contact with the wall oi the body so that the wall may change its contour under expansion of container contents without aflecting said ring, in combinationwith a cover having a depending relatively resilient lmperforate flange adapted to fit around said ring, the lower part of the flange being rolled or beaded inform a relatively resilient band or ring encircling the ring on the body and having ariding frictional contact therewith, permitting the cover to be raised under said expansion of container contents to correspondingly enlarge the capacity 01' the container while maintaining a substantially uniform sealing relationship between the cover and body throughout their range of adjustment, the flange of the cover and the rigid ring on the body be n of substantial depth to permit a substantial range of adjustment between the body and cover, and the flange of the'cover being of relatively greater, depth than the ring so that when the cover is completely closed onto the body the rolled of beaded edge thereof will act as an elastic ring or band in any position it occupies dependent upon the adjustment of the cover on the body to enlarge or restrict the capacity of the container when in normally filled condition or when increased under the expansion of its contents.

HER AN cm. 

